Thermostat



2- E. E. GREGORY 1,845,998

THERMOSTAT Ori inal Filed Oct. 27, 1925 "I-"I'... L

, INVENTOR [u GREGORY wmw ATTORNEY- l6 ible strip, sheet 35 adjustablylimiting the claims.

Patented Feb. 16, 93:-

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE m n. was, or :sgooxnnr, NEW YORK, assrs woa 'ro srsncmz.'rnmos'mr scam, in ooaroaamon or massacmrsnr'rs I rmnos'iwr applicationfled October 27, 1925, Serial No. 65,218. Divided and thil application1186 February 18, 1928. Serial No. 88,095.

This invention relates broadly to thermostats, and isa division of the aplication filed by me October 27, 1925, gbrial Number {$5,218, whichshows an application of the 5 invention to an electric circuitcontroller.

One application of the thermostat comprising my invention is'illustratedin my Patent No. 1,576,649, granted March 16, 1926, in connection withthe movable hand, index or feature of an advertising device, toreciprocate said feature abruptly or'with a jump motion as thetemperature of the thermostatic" element changes.

My invention consists primarily of a flexlate, or piece of thermostaticmaterial which is held flexed in one ,direction by a yielding or elasticpressure in such a manner that when the temperature of the thermostatrises, the greater expansion of its component material opposite saiddirection when sufiicient will tause the thermostatic piece to overcomethe elastic pressure thereon and to snap-or spring abruptly past thecenter of pressure to a flexure in the "opposite direction, and when thetemperature of the thermostat falls, the therinostatic piece willconversely spring abruptly past the center of pressure to its originalposition.

My invention comprises also an electric heatmg resistant apilied to thethermostatic piece so as to cause e same to move abrupt- 1y as stated.

My invention also consists of means for l the abrupt movement of thethermostatlc piece so as to regulate its .ac-

t1on.

My invention also consists of means for adj ing the elastic pressure bywhich the t rmostatic piece is held flexed, so as to regu te its action.a

My invention also comprises various other features of construction andarrangement hereinafter described andclaimed. a

In order that iny invention may be fully understood, 1 shall at firstdescribe in detail the mode in which I at present prefer to carry theinvention into practice, and then point out the various'features of theinvention in Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings formingpart of this speclfication in which like parts are designated by thesame numerals in allthe figures.

Figure 1' is a side view of a thermostat embodying the present preferredform of my invention.

Figure'2 is a line 22, Figure 1.

In the present embodiment of my invent1on, numeral 8 designates aflexible strip,

sheet, plate, or other piece of thermostatic material. I prefer to holdthis flexible thermostatic strip 8 flexed under elastic pressure, as forexample indicated in solid lines in Figures 1 and 2 by insertin orotherwise pivotally securing the ends 0% strip 8 in seats 9 in theopposite flexible arms 10 of flexible strip 11.

With the strip 8 flexed as shown in solid lines in Figs. 1 and 2, themore expansive component material of the thermostatic strip 8 is on theside of said strip opposite the direction toward which the strip isflexed. When the strip is in this position, it is to be vertical sectiontaken alongunderstood that it is at its cooler temperature,

thermostatic piece 8 falls suflicientlyto contract the more expansivecomponent material so as to overcome the elastic inward ressure of thearms 10, the thermostatic strlp 8 will snap or spring abruptly in theopposite direction past the axis of pressure to the position shown infull lines in Figure 1'.

To regulate the action of the thermostatic strip or piece 8, and limitits'jump in either direction, I prefer to employ stops 12 and 13adjustably mounted in a case or other fixture 14 on opposite sides ofthe-strip 8. In this instance, the stops are shown as threaded, and byscrewing the stops 12 and 13 in the fixture 14, themovement of the strip8 can be stopped at the exact point from which it will jump abruptlywhen the predetermined temperature is reached.

To adjust, regulate, and control further the 5 action of thethermostatic piece or strip 8, I have shown an adjusting screw 15,passing through a'suitable non-threaded hole in thecase 14 andthreadedly engaging the strip 11. Thus by turning screw 15, I can easilyflex the strip 11 to increase or decrease the elastic axial pressure ofthe arms 10 on the flexible strip 8.

It is to be understood that I do not limit.

myself to these specific means for controlling and regulating the actionof piece or strip 8, as either one or both of these regulating means maybe employed, and they may take various other forms without departingfrom the scope of the invention.

It is evident that my improved and novel thermostat may be used ininnumerable ways, as for instance, it may be used as a motor whereversuch an abrupt motion is desired.

Also, when the thermostatic strip 8 is prop erly connected to anelectric circuit controller, it is evident that arcing or chattering dueto the making and breaking of the circuit will be avoided by the abruptmovements of the strip.

may be heated in various manners, for example, an electric.heating'resistant may be wound around or ap lied to said thermostaticstrip to cause t e same to move abruptly. Again, the thermostatic stripmay rely for its heat upon the heatof an imple ment to'which it isattached, andalso upon 'the temperature of the room in which it issituated.

It is evident that many changes may be made in the. specificconstruction and arrangement described without departing from theboundaries of my invention as defined by the following claims I claim asmy invention:

1. A thermostat comprising a flexible piece of thermostatic material andbearings pressing oppositely on said thermostatic piece, at least one ofsaid bearings being pivotal and elastic, acting to flex the thermostaticpiece and to yield and cause it to j limp to its oppositely flexedposition when a change of temperature causes it to move across the axisof pressure.

2. A thermostat comprising a flexible piece of thermostatic material,and opposing bearings at least one of which is an elastic arm pivoted toand acting to flex the thermostatic piece and to yield and cause it tojump to its oppositely flexed position when a change of temperaturecauses it to move across the axis of pressure.

3. A thermostat comprising a flexible piece of thermostatic material andan elastic flexing element therefor comprising oppossupports,

It will'be understood also that the strip 8\ and cause it to jump to itsoppositely flexed position when a change of temperature causes it tomove across the axis of pressure.

4. A snap acting thermo-responsive controlling device comprising a framehaving resilient supportsand a connecting member, a bimetallic memberheld by said supports, and means operative upon the connecting memberfor regulating the pressure of said supports.

5. A snap acting thermo-responsive controlling device comprising apairofspaced a stressed and curved bimetallic member separate from saidsupports and held between the same, and adjustable resilient. pressuremeans for causing said bimetallic member to assume a reversal ofcurvature under a temperature change.

6. A thermo-responsive controlling device comprising a frame having aepair of elastic pressure-exerting arms, a flexed bimetallic membermounted between said arms, the ends of said bimetallic member beingpivoted with respect to said arms and means foradju'sting the pressureof said arms to cause the bimetallic member to snap into a posi-v tionof opposite curvature under a temperature change. is

7. A thermo-responsive controlling device having a frame provided with apair of resilient arms and a resilient connecting member therefor, abimetallic strip held between said arms and means operative upon there-- silient connecting member for regulating the pressure of said arms.

8. A thermostat comprising. a U-shaped spring, a bimetallic strip, meansincluding a slotted portion in the endof one arm of said springformaintaining said strip under compression, said means preventing saidstrip from assuming its normal free shape whereby heat strains causesaid strip to snap from one position to another.

9. A thermostat comprising a U-shaped spring, at least one arm ofsaid'spring being slotted, a bimetallic strip, one end of said striphavinga knife edge, means for mounting said strip so that the knife edgeof said strip lies in the slot of the spring, said strip beingcompressed by said spring to prevent the strip from ever assuming itsnormally free shape whereby said strip snaps from one position toanother position in responseto heat strains. g

10. A thermostat comprising a base, a U- shaped spring, a bimetallicstrip, a knife edge connection between one end of said strip and one armof said spring, said strip being mounted so that the spring exerts acompres-

